I found a lump in my left breast almost 2 weeks ago. I called the Doctors who saw me the same day and referred me for a mammogram on the 2 ww referral. I have an appointment at the breast clinic this Friday so very quick but I am dreading it. I know most of these lumps end up being benign and apart from age I don’t really have any higher risk categories but I’m convinced it’s going to be bad news. There’s nothing I can do but wait but just wanted to type out my thoughts really. I suffer with general anxiety so I keep worrying that it’s going to be cancer and then they’ll tell me there’s nothing to be done. I have two children (12,14) and cannot imagine the impact this may have. I am trying to be sensible and stop thinking this way, I suppose I just need some reassurance. Most of what I have read is really encouraging on here so wanted to say “Hi”. Thanks for reading x
I completely understand what you must be going through. Worrying is natural but whatever the outcome, remember you are not alone. Also, until the doctors / medical team actually say it out loud on what this is, try not to think too much about it. Sending lots of positive vibes and strength your way. And always remember humans are more resilient than they think they are!
Hi @goose1 you’re in the same boat that we have all been at the start. Yes, it is difficult to not imagine the worst but I am here to try to reassure you that 80% of referrals for breast abnormalities turns out to be one of 8 or 9 other things it could be. If it does turn out to be cancerous however, coming up to 90% of us who have had it, go on to get rid of it and continue our lives - maybe a bit changed but living life nevertheless. Please try to remember that breast cancer isn’t really thought of as The Big C so much these days, only around 30% need chemotherapy and no-one dies of primary breast cancer because your breasts are not organs, like you lungs, liver or brain. Having said that, treatment, if you need it, can be hard going depending on the type of cancer but it’s doable. Good luck at your appointment, I’m sure that the staff will be lovely and will also try to reassure you.
As the others have said, your feelings are very normal and we all totally understand.
I just wanted to jump in and add about the resilience of children. I was diagnosed with bilateral cancer in July and had a double mastectomy. My children (22 and 12) were fabulous and have come through unscathed.
We are quite open and no secrets so both knew I had found a lump and then that it was cancer, and that the doctors were going to sort it. We felt being open and answering any questions really helped them know that we weren’t scared so they shouldn’t be (despite inside me being totally terrified!).
My mum had bc 22 years ago and no recurrence so it was something in their life and they had lots of positive outcomes which again helped.
During my meltdowns, the Breast Cancer Now nurses on the helpline here were wonderful and really helped at times when I was so scared so do use them and your GP for support xx
Hey goose, ive just come on to say i am in exactly the same boat. I found a lump 2 weeks agao and have my appointment at the hospital on Friday. Ive had a differnt type of cancer before so i keep thinking that this is also going to be bad news. Then my brain goes in to overdrive thinking that evey ache and pain means its everywhere. I have moments of sheer terror about it and worry, as you do, about the effect on my son who is 8 and was too young to really remember anything about the last time. I also worry about my husband having to go through it all again as well. No great words of wisdom other to say you are not alone and for both of us, even if we do get the worst news on Friday it is not the end. I keep telling myself that I beat it once and if i have to I’ll do it again, you will too. Good luck on Friday, I’ll be thinking of you.
Just wanted to thank you all for your lovely words. So nice to think that I am not alone and it’s normal to panic! @giraffe14 I totally get you, I have a cough at the moment so I’m already wondering whether this is secondary etc. It’s so annoying! I really appreciate the replies and fell a little calmer! Does anyone know if you get any ideas from the 1st appointment or is it still a waiting game after the scans etc?
I think a lot of us were given an idea on the day of what our initial diagnosis was.
My radiologist told be as he was scanning that my lump was cancer and the consultant gave his initial plan of lumpectomy and radiotherapy.
However I did need more tests which revealed DCIS on both sides (hence double mastectomy) and waiting a week for hormone receptor biopsy results and two weeks for HER2 results.
Equally, many women are told that their lumps are unlikely to be cancer - so it really depends on the individual symptoms for the medical team to assess. Whatever it is, once you are under the care of the team, everything usually feels more in control.
Hope all goes well for you xx
I was recalled from a routine mammogram and had a biopsy under ultrasound. I volunteered that my Mum had had a blocked milk duct when she was 50, maybe it could be that? No, came the reply, it is cancer but the biopsy will tell us what sort. So I think that the scanning technology is so sophisticated these days, and the radiographers/radiologists are so experienced that they have a pretty accurate idea at the time. As it turned out, it was a 14mm Stage 1 Grade 1 er+ HER2- IDC with integral low grade DCIS so very treatable. The waiting for results can be hard but once you know what you’re dealing with - which still might be benign - you’ll feel much more in control.
Oops sorry @goose1 - it’s easy to go into autopilot when talking about your own BC. This isn’t something you need to worry about now, but it means my tumor was small, it was fed by estrogen which 70% of BCs are, so was very well understood and treated all of the time by the oncologists. It was an Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, (IDC) which is also the most common type and there was a little bit of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ DCIS which is non-invasive. What I was trying to say is that many, many diagnosis are much more treatable than one might think at the outset.
IME you do get a heads up from the Sonographer if they think its cancer when they take the biopsy. I’d advise taking someone with you, it can take a while and with a bit of waiting around between tests. In my case, it started with a mammogram, then a wait. Then a 3D mammogram and a wait. Then an ultrasound scan, at which point she asked if I could come back early next morning as was late in the day (about 7pm) and she had a flight in the afternoon so would come in special - then I knew she was serious about it.
Didn’t take anyone with me, but I’m not an anxious person and wanted to have the plan before telling family. Even so, it was a surreal feeling walking out in the dark from the hospital I work in, now on the other side as a patient, and bumping into a colleague on the way out that was coming in for a nightshift. A disconnect from the world as it carries on moving while you stop in the moment and try to absob events.
Also, biopsies can be painful, some less than others (usually a few are taken). The first one seemed the worst, so the expectation was there that the rest would be the same, but turned out not to be as bad. Then there was another mammogram to check they could see a marker that was placed during biopsy - uncomfortable having your boob squeezed normally, but more so straight after a biopsy.
So, 3 mammograms an USS and biopsy, can take some time. I listened to music on my earbuds to chill in between.
Hi, my daughter is waiting for biopsy results, was told when having the scan and biopsy that it looked like a lymph node and doctor agreen so hoping that it is not cancerous, i had second diagnosis last june and am ok now so fingers crossed my daugher does’t have to go through all i did first and secong time
Fingers crossed for you too, but she has a great example in you who has been through it despite how hard it is.
My mum had breast cancer and mastectomy 20 years ago (no recurrence thankfully) and when I was diagnosed last summer, it was huge comfort for my children that ‘granny had cancer and she was fine so you’re going to be fine too’.
My radiologist said the lymph nodes looked fine and they were clear after biopsy but I think there are women here who had suspicious looking nodes and they’re fine after biopsy and could look swollen for other reasons. So it’s difficult to predict, but thinking of you both xx
Thanks so much everyone for your lovely words. The radiologist confirmed my lump is a cyst. I was so releived . @giraffe14 i hope your appointment went well xx
Hello, I can understand what you are going through I am in same boat as I being struggling with sleep and high anxiety.
I am 38yo, I found lump on my left lump and went through 3 mammograms, ultrasound and two biopsies one on the lump and the other on my axillary lymph nodes on the left too.So scared even the nurse write on my letter that it’s 3P 3cm lump(probably benign)
I have small child who 4yo just small percentage that I alight have cancer freaks me out.
My results due next week😔
Hi @goose1, im so glad you got that result. Unfortunately, I wasnt so lucky. No one said certain anything either way but the impression I got was that they thought it might be cancerous, especially as they told me to stop taking my HRT, did multiple extra mammograms and several biopsies. I also think they found something else in my armpit on the ultrasound as he certainly did some measuring and took some extra images. Biopsy taken so now a week or so to wait agin to find the results. Hate the waiting and not knowing. Feel steam rollered now and just want to sit in a dark room and wail.
